Luxury Car Hire Service - What car would be best?
Discussion
I'm thinking about setting up a high quality Chauffeur service in the Surrey/Berkshire area but don't know what vehicle would be in greatest demand.
I was thinking of either a Rolls Royce Phantom, Bentley Continental Flying Spur, Bentley Arnage or Mercedes S Class. Obviously there is a difference in car costs and amount that can be charged so I'm just trying to work out what would make more sense.
I'm looking to use a high quality car and providing a high quality Chauffeur sevice.
How much demand is there for a Rolls Royce Phantom for example? I was in Knightsbridge on Saturday night and must have seen about eight Phantoms!
Many thanks for any advice that can be supplied.
SLH
I was thinking of either a Rolls Royce Phantom, Bentley Continental Flying Spur, Bentley Arnage or Mercedes S Class. Obviously there is a difference in car costs and amount that can be charged so I'm just trying to work out what would make more sense.
I'm looking to use a high quality car and providing a high quality Chauffeur sevice.
How much demand is there for a Rolls Royce Phantom for example? I was in Knightsbridge on Saturday night and must have seen about eight Phantoms!
Many thanks for any advice that can be supplied.
SLH
Find your clients first and ask what they will pay for!!
Have you sat and worked out your operating costs for each car?
Its very nice having a Phantom but it wont earn any money sat on your drive because no one will pay for it.
Mine work on average 10 hours a week, whereas a BMW 7 will work 80 hours a week.
Have you sat and worked out your operating costs for each car?
Its very nice having a Phantom but it wont earn any money sat on your drive because no one will pay for it.
Mine work on average 10 hours a week, whereas a BMW 7 will work 80 hours a week.
Hi bmwdrivernigel,
Many thanks for your assistance with my query as its really appreciated. I currently have no clients as I suppose that until I have a vehicle to offer its like offering fresh air.
I'm unsure what route to take as I quite agree there's no point getting a Phantom to have it just sitting in the garage. I've undertaken some costings but until I know what realistic income I can achieve on each model against the running and purchase costs as well as wages there's a big risk of possibly over-estimating the bookings.
My main issue is that I don't really know what demand there is for certain cars - for example is it more costs effective to run a BMW 7 series against the income I can achieve rather than a Phantom or Bentley.
I have been running another business for the past 11 years providing IT services to large bluechip companies but have a keen interest in developing this luxury car hire business and have some ideal people who could undertake the driving to a standard I would require and I'm keen to build up a valued customer base who appreciate the service.
Do you ever have work that you have to refuse because of existing bookings as if so perhaps we could come to an arrangement that would benefit the both of us as I'm sure when I'm up and running I'm also going to have to refuse some bookings because of existing committments?
Many thanks for your assistance with my query as its really appreciated. I currently have no clients as I suppose that until I have a vehicle to offer its like offering fresh air.
I'm unsure what route to take as I quite agree there's no point getting a Phantom to have it just sitting in the garage. I've undertaken some costings but until I know what realistic income I can achieve on each model against the running and purchase costs as well as wages there's a big risk of possibly over-estimating the bookings.
My main issue is that I don't really know what demand there is for certain cars - for example is it more costs effective to run a BMW 7 series against the income I can achieve rather than a Phantom or Bentley.
I have been running another business for the past 11 years providing IT services to large bluechip companies but have a keen interest in developing this luxury car hire business and have some ideal people who could undertake the driving to a standard I would require and I'm keen to build up a valued customer base who appreciate the service.
Do you ever have work that you have to refuse because of existing bookings as if so perhaps we could come to an arrangement that would benefit the both of us as I'm sure when I'm up and running I'm also going to have to refuse some bookings because of existing committments?
Hi guys - I am getting married next year and wanted something different to the standard classics on offer - I hunted hard for a Phantom to hire, finding only a couple of places, mainly london, that'll hire them, from 1-2k a day....
I eventually settled on www.phantom-carhire.co.uk/phantomcarhire.htm (name: Ali) based in Manchester - has anyone ever heard of them/used them?
In answer to your question, I am thinking of doing this soon too - I think an Arnage would be a good place to start, you can pick some up for 45k.....then after a bit Phantoms are a must, but they're still 175k......silver I think is a must for hire cars, as they will be mostly be for weddings....
If anyone is interested in a partnership up this end of the country, let me know! - I'm looking M62 corridor and down to Lincoln...
I eventually settled on www.phantom-carhire.co.uk/phantomcarhire.htm (name: Ali) based in Manchester - has anyone ever heard of them/used them?
In answer to your question, I am thinking of doing this soon too - I think an Arnage would be a good place to start, you can pick some up for 45k.....then after a bit Phantoms are a must, but they're still 175k......silver I think is a must for hire cars, as they will be mostly be for weddings....
If anyone is interested in a partnership up this end of the country, let me know! - I'm looking M62 corridor and down to Lincoln...
What sort of money did it cost to hire a phantom in the end ? Not being rude just thinking aloud about the top end car hire business.
Phantoms are about £175k second hand - deposit say £25k - financing at say 5.5% - balloon payment of say £75k at 3 years hence - monthly payment would be £2750 ???
Maintenance and running would come in at £500 per month ???
Insurance - no idea
Driver say £80 - 100 per day
If you think they are only regularly going to be used for weddings - say 3 per month and maybe 1 or 2 other days
Cost are going to be £750 - £900 per day plus insurance and a return on capital of £25k. I can see why people charge £1- £2k.
The problem with the North is that there is not as much disposable money around when compared to the SE - plus I would guess there is a good trade down south for Henley, Goodwood etc ?
I suspect the figures work out a lot better for say a Merc S class
Phantoms are about £175k second hand - deposit say £25k - financing at say 5.5% - balloon payment of say £75k at 3 years hence - monthly payment would be £2750 ???
Maintenance and running would come in at £500 per month ???
Insurance - no idea
Driver say £80 - 100 per day
If you think they are only regularly going to be used for weddings - say 3 per month and maybe 1 or 2 other days
Cost are going to be £750 - £900 per day plus insurance and a return on capital of £25k. I can see why people charge £1- £2k.
The problem with the North is that there is not as much disposable money around when compared to the SE - plus I would guess there is a good trade down south for Henley, Goodwood etc ?
I suspect the figures work out a lot better for say a Merc S class
It costs around 1k (not exact figure) for 6 hours - Ali is a great lad (on the phone) unlimited milaege (within reason)...he's just got a Flying Spur too...
TBH I'd say there was as nearly as much money in Man, Leeds, Sheff and Nth Yorkshire, Harrogate par example, than in the SE, its just that us northerners are tight ar5es....
TBH I'd say there was as nearly as much money in Man, Leeds, Sheff and Nth Yorkshire, Harrogate par example, than in the SE, its just that us northerners are tight ar5es....
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